RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Family medicine journals’ endorsement of reporting guidelines and clinical trial registration: a cross-sectional analysis
JF BJGP Open
JO BJGP Open
FD Royal College of General Practitioners
SP BJGPO.2023.0183
DO 10.3399/BJGPO.2023.0183
A1 Compton, Wyatt
A1 Dennis, Brody
A1 Clark, Payton
A1 Smith, Caleb A.
A1 Nees, Danya
A1 Hughes, Griffin
A1 Vassar, Matt
YR 2024
UL http://bjgpopen.org/content/early/2024/05/25/BJGPO.2023.0183.abstract
AB Background Family medicine, vital for patient care but underfunded, prompts an evaluation of how family medicine journals endorse, require, and advocate for reporting guidelines (RGs), clinical trial, and systematic review registration.Aim Assess endorsement and requirement of RGs, and the stance on clinical trial and systematic review registration in family medicine journals, impacting research quality and transparency.Design & setting A cross-sectional analysis of 43 "Family Practice" journals, identified through the 2021 Scopus CiteScore. Editors-in-Chief were contacted to confirm article types. Data extracted from "instructions to authors" pages focused on RG recommendations, requirements, and trial registration.Method To ensure confidentiality and prevent bias, authors independently extracted data on RG utilisation, adherence, and clinical trial registration provide a overview of research standards.Results Of 43 journals, the most recommended guidelines were CONSORT (69%), PRISMA (58%), and STROBE (60%). The most required were PRISMA (16%) and CONSORT (11%). Clinical trial registration was recommended or required by 67% of journals. Additionally, 40 out of the 43 (93%) journals cited at least one reporting guideline in their instructions to authors.Conclusion Family medicine journals exhibit varied endorsement and requirement patterns for RGs and clinical trial registration. While guidelines like CONSORT, PRISMA, and STROBE are acknowledged, caution is needed in presuming a direct link to enhanced research quality. A nuanced approach, promoting diverse reporting guidelines and rigorous study registration, is essential for elevating transparency and advancing research standards in family medicine.